It doesn’t take a political aficionado to realize the current polarization in American democracy. There is also a large amount of apathy about youth spurning public service but Jefferson County High School sophomore Nathan Thomas is trying to change that.
“Nathan Thomas is a leader who is a disciplined young man running multiple nonprofits. I’ve yet to have any issues with him, and he is one of my best-behaved students. He is also a drum major, which requires a great deal of knowledge and trust from the band director, almost like an assistant band instructor,” said JCHS American Government teacher Coach Ben Porter.
Thomas spoke to the Wrens City Council last week about creating a Youth City Council that would help plan, organize, and run events for youth in Wrens.
“I think this is needed because according to the last census, Wrens has a large youth population. We would work alongside the city council and I believe that this would give youth a positive, active voice in the community and it’s something that would make the city better,” Thomas said.
Thomas, is the son of Nick and Jessica Thomas of Wrens.
In his presentation, Thomas envisioned the Wrens Youth City Council to be structured similar to its actual local government counterpart.
“I would like to see a Mayor, Mayor Pro Tempore, and three council members which would allow a good cross section of youth voices to be involved in local government,” Thomas said.
It is Thomas goal to establish the Wrens Youth City Council and make sure that it develops future members at the middle school and elementary schools.
“I want to use the Wrens Youth City Council as a model to build a similar organization at the county level,” Thomas said. “I have already spoken to the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners about building a youth county commission that would draw youth from across the Jefferson County and allow them a voice and role in county wide government. The commissioners were all for it but we are still in the planning stages at the county level but I think it will be an organization that is active and the county can be proud of. Most importantly, I think it gives the youth an opportunity to realize the role they will be play as future leaders of local cities, Jefferson County, the state of Georgia, and even the nation.”
Besides his involvement in spearheading the Wrens Youth City Council, Thomas is very active in clubs serving as drum major in the band and also plays for the Warriors golf team. Despite his young age, Thomas has worked on a number of campaigns and served as a page for State Senator Max Burns, and attended a business workshop for young leaders at Emory University.
Public service is his future.
“I would like to go somewhere in the Ivy League and continue law school also at an Ivy League. I’m going to a Model UN at Princeton and Yale over the next few months,” Thomas said.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Student working to give area youth a voice in local government
